French and Francophone Studies – Critical Race Studies

Department: Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Position Specialization: French and Francophone Studies – Critical Race Studies
Search Contact: Sharon Marquart
Email: smarqua2@gustavus.edu
Phone: 507-933-7388

Position Details: Gustavus Adolphus College invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures to begin September 1, 2022.

Institution Information: Gustavus Adolphus College seeks employees who are committed to and will be resolute in advancing inclusion and equity. We seek candidates whose experience has prepared them to help us realize our college-wide goal of engagement and inclusion of culturally and racially diverse audiences in the humanities, arts, and sciences. The Gustavus Acts strategic plan renews our commitment to equip students to lead purposeful lives, and to act on the great challenges of our time by diversifying and expanding the Gustavus community and delivering a distinctive and integrated liberal arts education.

To support these goals, Gustavus Adolphus College is currently in the second year of a multiyear, multi-departmental hiring initiative to enhance and diversify departmental curricular and co-curricular offerings. Faculty at Gustavus have opportunities to participate in our interdisciplinary Programs,
including African Studies; Environmental Studies; Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies; Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies; and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Minnesota is home to vibrant and increasingly racially diverse communities, and we believe that representation from these communities positively contributes to our student body. We especially seek faculty members whose impact will be to advance academic and cultural programs in areas relevant to African, Black, or Indigenous history, arts, and culture, while also helping the College engage and support students of color.

We are committed to fostering a community that embodies the value of a liberal arts education rooted in pluralism. We engage in this work at a coeducational, private, Lutheran (ELCA) College of Swedish immigrant heritage that is a leading residential, national liberal arts institution of 2200 students.

Department Information: The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures is committed to leading students to intercultural competence by developing a deep understanding and appreciation for language, culture, and literature. We are committed to incorporating diverse
approaches into our teaching in order to instill in our students the basic principle that language is essential to the study of culture, to intellectual inquiry, to critical thought, and to lifelong learning. We prepare students to work collaboratively in an increasingly complex and interconnected world and to engage the world in its diversity. The French program integrates the study of culture from the earliest stages of language learning and showcases the diverse cultures, histories, and people who speak French in all levels of our courses. Many of our courses taught in French contribute to interdisciplinary programs at the College, including African Studies; Comparative Literature; Film and Media Studies; Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies; Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies; and Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies. Faculty in the French program also regularly teach introductory-to-advanced courses in English for these programs as well as for the College’s general education initiatives. For more information about the department, its faculty, students, and courses, please see the department website at https://gustavus.edu/mlc/.

Major/Essential Functions: Gustavus faculty teach, advise, conduct research, and serve the college and department. Currently, tenure-line Gustavus faculty have a 6-course equivalent teaching assignment. The successful candidate will in their first year receive a reduced assignment of 5 courses.

Primary teaching responsibilities will include teaching all levels of French (from beginning language courses to advanced seminars on continental France and Francophone cultures), and contributions to general education. The successful candidate will also develop courses for interdisciplinary programs such as Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies; African Studies; and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in French (or a related field); we will consider candidates who have achieved ABD status and who will complete their degree by September 30, 2022
• Prior experience teaching at the postsecondary level
• Native or near-native proficiency in French and English
• Ability to contribute courses in English to interdisciplinary programs (African Studies; Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies; and/or Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies)
• Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching
• Evidence of a commitment to undergraduate student advising
• Teaching and research interests in issues of race in the French-speaking world (any century)
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to pedagogical methods that enable students across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups to reach their maximum potential.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of an emerging pattern of research in the intersection of race and gender in continental France and the Francophone world (any century)
• Interest and experience in curricular development
• Ability to perform service that will foster diversity at the College

Application Procedures: To apply, visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs and complete the online application. The documents that must be uploaded include the following:

• Letter of application that addresses the position qualifications
• Curriculum vitae
• A brief (one to two pages) statement of teaching philosophy
• A brief (one to two pages) statement of research interests
• Transcripts (scanned copies acceptable)
• The names and contact information for three professional references (at least one must be able to address teaching experience and teaching effectiveness; please indicate the teaching reference in your letter of application). Please do not ask references to submit letters of recommendation; the committee will conduct reference checks by phone.

For full consideration, applications must be received by November 1, 2021. While applications may be accepted after this date, it is not guaranteed that they will be considered. At this time, please only upload the required documents listed above; finalists will be asked to submit sample syllabi and a sample of scholarly writing. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the search committee.

Gustavus Adolphus College is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.